Lakhimpur Kheri, March 18 -- Forest authorities successfully tranquilised and rescued a leopard on Monday night, after a nearly four-hour long operation in Banbirpur village under the north Nighasan range of Dudhwa buffer zone (DBZ). The leopard was a male of about four to five years with no apparent physical deformities. Forest officials carried the leopard to the range headquarters for physical examination and observation. Kirti Chaudhary, deputy director, DBZ said that "during examination by experts, the leopard was found to be fit and healthy." On Monday, a leopard had barged into the house of one Hemraj Verma in Banbirpur village and caused minor injuries to three persons including Hemraj's aunt, Rampyari. Along with other villagers, Hemraj took his aunt out and closed the house from outside, trapping the leopard inside. Manoj Tiwari, SDO, Nighasan, along with range officer Bhupendra Chaudhary, Dr Deepak from Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dr Talha from Dudhwa National Park rushed to the spot and tranquilised the leopard. Just a day earlier, a leopard had entered the fodder room at one Rajan Sharma's farmhouse in neighbouring Rannagar village, causing minor injuries to Sharma. The leopard later escaped from the room amid rescue operations by forest officials.DEO KANT PANDEY...